Columbia, Mo. ? It might have been make-or-break time for Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, with one newspaper speculating on game day about his possible replacement.

The Tigers’ 31-16 victory over Baylor on Saturday, making them bowl-eligible for the fourth time since 1983, should table that talk for another year. Especially since they still have an outside shot at making it to the Big 12 championship game.

“That’s the goal of the program. You want to be competing for the divisional championship in November,” Pinkel said. “Hopefully, sometimes you get it.”

This season represents a mild resurgence at best for Missouri (6-4, 4-3 Big 12 Conference), viewed as a team on the rise two seasons ago but coming off a 5-6 year that cast doubt on Pinkel’s ability to build a contender. Hence, the Kansas City Star’s story about Gary Barnett’s potential candidacy.

Missouri quarterback Brad Smith is congratulated by fans after the Tigers' 31-16 victory over Baylor. MU's victory Saturday in Columbia, Mo., made the Tigers bowl-eligible and kept them mathematically alive for the Big 12 North title.

Still, Missouri is one of three schools alive in the wide-open North Division, although it’s the longest shot after Colorado (7-3, 5-2) and Iowa State (7-3, 4-3). The Tigers need a three-way tie for first place to pull it off and would get the nod because they beat fourth-place Nebraska while the other two teams lost to the Huskers.

If Colorado beats Nebraska on Nov. 25, the Buffaloes win outright and advance to the title game for the fourth time in five years. They also hold the tiebreaker over Missouri, having beaten them two weeks ago.

Iowa State can advance with a victory over Kansas on Nov. 26 coupled with Colorado and Missouri losses.

The Cyclones’ 31-16 victory over Colorado created all of these possibilities. Iowa State has won four straight.